NOTES for Co1 15:10

The apostle Paul assesses himself and his ministry very soberly, deeply aware that his apostleship is a gift of God's grace, God's will. From being a zealous persecutor of the Church, after Jesus Himself appeared to him on the road to Damascus, he became a most zealous apostle of Christ.

The initiative comes from God: He calls a person and grants grace for ministry. Yet a great deal depends on the person: there may be no result, and grace may prove to have been in vain, if they do not devote all their strength to working with God. If they do devote all their strength, it is important to understand—and the apostle sees this with astonishing clarity—that we labour not by our own strength, but, in his words, by ‘the grace of God which is with me’.